I tried the signature burgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King. The most iconic was my least favorite. (2024)

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As a fast-food reporter, I've tried and tested many fast-food burgers over the years.

While I've tested the biggest burgers at fast-food chains and practically every fast-food double cheeseburger that exists, I decided to bring it back to the basics and try the signature burgers from three of the most-beloved chains in America.

I tried the McDonald's Big Mac, Wendy's Dave's Single, and the Burger King Whopper to determine which classic fast-food burger is best.

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My least favorite of the signature burgers I tried was McDonald's Big Mac.

Arguably the most iconic fast-food burger, the Big Mac is a staple on the McDonald's menu. Created by owner and operator Jim Delligattiof Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1967, the first "Big Mac" featured a triple-decker burger and sold for 45 cents.

The burger rolled out across the US in 1968 and quickly became the chain's signature burger. Today, an estimated 900 million Big Macs are sold each year around the world.

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A Big Mac comes with two 1.6-ounce beef patties, pickles, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, a slice of American cheese, and layers of Big Mac sauce on a sesame-seed bun.

The Big Mac cost me $6.29, excluding tax, at my local McDonald's in Massachusetts.

Right away, I wasn't obsessed with the flavors or texture of this burger.

I felt like the burger I received was mostly lettuce, which smothered the flavors of the cheese, meat, and sauce. I wanted more of a tangy flavor from ketchup, mustard, or simply more Big Mac sauce.

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I thought it could have used an extra layer of sauce or cheese on top of the burger.

The mouthfeel of the burger was noticeably dry, and I think a lot of that could be remedied if the burger wasn't so bottom-heavy with its toppings. The cheese and layers of Big Mac sauce were all towards the bottom of the burger, rather than the top, which meant the dry bun and burger were hitting the roof of my mouth with little to no flavor or moisture happening.

While I understand that this is the most iconic burger on the McDonald's menu, it is by no means my favorite. Next time, I'll order a Quarter Pounder and call it a day.

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My second-favorite burger was the Dave's Single from Wendy's.

Named after Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, Dave's Single is Wendy's signature burger. It is available in multiple sizes, from the single all the way up to a triple-stacked burger.

It features one of Wendy's signature square-shaped patties and is the chain's version of a classic cheeseburger.

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The Dave's Single burger comes with one quarter-pound beef patty, a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and onions.

The burger cost me $5.49, excluding tax, from my local Wendy's in Massachusetts. It was the cheapest burger I tried.

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The burger was noticeably saucier than both the Whopper and the Big Mac.

It was practically dripping sauces, which I didn't necessarily mind. Some of the flavors were slightly covered up by the two condiments, but I thought the cheese was tangy and the onions cut through the sweeter elements of the burger.

There was also a generous serving of pickles and a large slice of tomato.

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Overall, I thought this was a good, classic cheeseburger.

However, if I had to change one thing, I might remove or ask for a half-serving of mayonnaise. It was an extremely moist burger thanks to the condiments and juicy beef patties, and that wasn't necessarily enjoyable.

The flavor of the beef didn't compare to the Whopper either, but I found that it was an overall solid choice for a late-night snack — especially if you don't want to break the bank.

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My favorite burger was the Whopper with cheese from Burger King.

Burger King's signature burger has been around for decades. Released in 1957, just four years after the chain opened, the Whopper was 37 centscompared to Burger King's original burger, which cost 18 cents.

Whoppers — and all Burger King burgers, for that matter — stand out compared to other chains given the fact that they're flame-grilled, giving their burgers a distinct smoky flavor.

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You can order a Whopper with or without cheese.

For the sake of this experiment, I decided to order a Whopper with cheese so that it would be a fair comparison with the other signature burgers.

The Whopper cost me $7.99, excluding tax, at my local Burger King in Massachusetts, which made it the most expensive burger I tried.

A Whopper comes with one quarter-pound beef patty, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise on a sesame-seed bun.

Right away, I could tell this burger was going to pack tons of flavor. Thick layers of ketchup and mayonnaise oozed out the sides of the burger, while the bun was large and held the other ingredients together perfectly.

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The burger was super flavorful, and it was my favorite in terms of taste and texture.

The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions all tasted very fresh, and they added a delicious crunch to the burger.

The burger patties had a ton of smoky, savory flavor that made the sandwich taste as if it was fresh off the grill. I also thought the shape of the patties, which were larger in circumference but flatter than some of the other burgers, made the sandwich easier to eat.

Overall, I think the burger was worth the slightly higher price tag.

When comparing the three signature burgers, I found myself feeling like a fast-food-eating Goldilocks: one burger was too dry, one was too moist, and one was just right.